Finger tip covers for use with touch display screens

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises finger tip covers comprised of soft, thin material for the fingers and thumb, for use with touch-display screens, both as a fashion accessory and as a functional accessory to minimize the transmission of dirt, germs, and bacteria among users.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority filing date of U.S. design patentapplication No. 29/378,739 filed on Nov. 9, 2010

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office fileor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to touch display screenaccessories, in particular, a finger tip cover designed to be used withtouch display screen both as a fashion accessory and as a means toprevent dirt, oil, and bacteria exchange between a finger and a touchdisplay screen.

Many accessories exist for cell phones, personal digital assistants, andother consumer electronic devices. Some of these accessories serve afunctional purpose such as a cell phone cover and cases, and touchscreen plastic protectors. Others are designed merely to make cellphones more fashionable, such as mobile telephone antenna charms. [U.S.patent application No. 10/978,262 by Alessandrino].

Moreover, as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and otherconsumer electronic devices with touch display screens (e.g., computerkiosks) become more widely in use, consumers become concerned with thepossible exchange of bacteria, germs, and dirt, as well as preservingthe quality of the touch display screen.

Protective membranes for touch screen devices are known [U.S. Pat. No.6,995,976 by Richardson]. However, while touch screen plastic covershelp to preserve the quality of touch display screens, there is nothingto prevent dirt, germs, and bacteria on touch screen plastic covers frombeing transferred between a plurality of users.

Users may use gloves to prevent the transmission of dirt, germs, andbacteria among users of touch display screens, however, gloves tend notto be practical in warm weather environments and many gloves are eithertoo bulky or not comprised of material designed to interact with a touchdisplay screen. It is difficult to type on a touch display screen whenusing, for example, leather or cotton gloves.

The present invention serves both as a fashion accessory for cellphones, personal digital assistants, and other consumer electronicdevices, as well as a functional accessory to prevent the transmissionof dirt, germs, and bacteria among users who share a device having atouch display screen.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises finger tip covers comprised of soft,thin material for the fingers and thumb, for use with touch-displayscreens, both as a fashion accessory and as a functional accessory tominimize the transmission of dirt, germs, and bacteria among users. Thefinger tip cover may comprise thin, soft material that interacts with atouch display screen. The finger tip cover may also comprise elasticmaterial to fit snugly over a finger, a rim or tab to assist in pullingthe finger tip cover over a finger, or a band to add elasticity to thefinger tip cover to keep it from falling off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger tip cover which may be used ona finger and which may comprise soft material. The inseam is visible.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the finger tip covers on a hand, alsofeaturing a pull down tab to assist with pulling the finger tip coverover a finger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of the present invention, a finger refers to either afinger or a thumb. Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of theinvention comprising a finger tip cover for use with a finger or thumb,comprised of elastic, soft material sufficient to interact with a touchdisplay screen, while at the same time preventing the transmission ofdirt, germs, or bacteria between a user's finger or thumb and the touchdisplay screen. The finger tip cover may have a rim (100) to assist theuser in pulling the finger tip cover down the finger/thumb, or simply toserve as a band to prevent the finger tip cover from slipping off. FIG.1 also shows an inseam (102).

FIG. 2 features alternative embodiments of the present invention. On thethumb (103), a finger tip cover features a wide band (104) to hold thefinger tip cover in place in order to keep the finger tip cover fromslipping off. A band (104) may be necessary if the material used for thefinger tip cover is not sufficiently elastic to fit snugly onto a fingeror thumb. It also features a tab (105) to assist a user in pulling thefinger tip cover over the finger or thumb.

Still referring to FIG. 1, on the index finger (106), a finger tip coveris featured without a band, but with a tab. In the middle finger (107),a finger tip cover may be comprised of material sufficiently elasticthat a band is not necessary.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

1. A finger tip cover for use with touch display screens.
 2. The fingertip cover of claim 1, wherein the finger tip cover is comprised of soft,thin material that can interact with a touch display screen.
 3. Thefinger tip cover of claim 1, wherein the finger tip cover is comprisedof material that prevents the transmission of dirt, germs, or bacteriabetween a user and a touch display screen.
 4. The finger tip cover ofclaim 1, wherein the finger tip cover is comprised of an elasticmaterial that fits snugly over a finger.
 5. The finger tip cover ofclaim 1, further comprising a rim to assist a user in pulling the fingertip cover over a finger.
 6. The finger tip cover of claim 1, furthercomprising a band to prevent the finger tip cover from slipping off. 7.The finger tip cover of claim 1, further comprising a tab to assist auser in pulling the finger tip cover over a finger.